A tiny baby’s shoe is one of the never before seen items that will be displayed in ‘Lusitania: life, loss, legacy’, our brand new exhibition opening on 27 March 2015. The shoe was given to Liverpool-born Joseph Parry, aged 26, who was an Able Seaman in the Deck Department of Lusitania.

Both men were rightly regarded as heroes and were awarded Board of Trade medals for gallantry by King George V at Buckingham Palace.

Joseph always treasured one very personal memento – this tiny baby’s shoe that was given to him by a grateful lady passenger after he saved her and her baby. On the bottom of the shoe he wrote “Lest We Forget Lusitania 7th May 1915”.

MCR/25/118 Lusitania’s first arrival in New York. Image probably out of copyright, copyright unknown. Please contact us if you have information.

In the lead up to Merseyside Maritime Museum marking the centenary of the sinking of Lusitania on 7 May 2015 with our upcoming exhibition ‘Lusitania: life loss, legacy’, it is worth flagging up some other significant dates in the history of this world famous passenger liner. On this day 107 years ago, Lusitania was sailing across the Atlantic on her maiden voyage, having departed from Liverpool on the evening of 7 September. Liverpool was literally buzzing with excitement in the days leading up to this, and the world was watching. Could this new showcase of British engineering stand up to the immense anticipation which had surrounded her throughout her build and preparation? Could she claim back the Blue Riband (the unofficial prize for the fastest ship on the North Atlantic) title for Britain from Germany? Over 200,000 people lined the banks of the Mersey to wave her off; cheering and singing ‘Rule Britannia’.

In the collection of Maritime Archives is a letter from that maiden voyage, written by passenger Cecil Minnitt to his fiancée. In it he describes the scene:

“You should have heard the people cheer. There were crowds lining both shores and at New Brighton they had a display of fireworks as a send off for us. I went right up on the highest deck close to the funnels to see her go.”

He also talks of her immense size and luxurious interiors:

“You do not get any idea of her size till you get right on the top and then it is like being on Lincoln Cathedral. I went over part of the 1st class and it is really impossible to describe, it is so beautiful. The staterooms are exquisite and all the other rooms which I went in are so beautifully furnished that it would be impossible for me to attempt to describe them.”

You will be able to see this letter on display in the new exhibition. Lusitania arrived in New York early on 13 September, just short of breaking the Blue Riband record – bad weather was partly to blame, and the fact that her engines were not fully run-in. Thousands of people turned out to catch their first glimpse of the ship, and during her week-long stay there she was opened up to the public.

She was to win the Blue Riband back on her second voyage in October, and between her and her sister ship Mauretania, Britain went on to retain the title for the next 22 years!

For a while now I have been privileged to work with members of the Derbyshire Family Association (DFA). In September 2012 we opened a permanent display on the First Floor of Merseyside Maritime Museum, dedicated to the story of the bulk carrier MV Derbyshire, lost in the South China Sea with all hands on 9 September 1980. 42 crewmen and 2 wives perished, including 17 from Liverpool. The oil/bulk/ore carrier MV Derbyshire was the biggest British merchant ship ever lost.

The DFA fought for 20 years to uncover the truth about why the ship sank, and has also played a crucial role in influencing changes to safety at sea – especially for bulk carriers.

It is on this foundation that the MV Derbyshire Trust Fund (DTF) has been set up, and the charity will support seafarers and campaign for safer ships in order to preserve lives at sea.

Quite rightly the launch received wide press coverage and I was fortunate enough to attend and listen to the founding members speak about the charity’s formation and aims.

The charity is raising money to have a permanent memorial sited at the Liverpool Waterfront in memory of the 42 men and 2 women who died. It will also be seen as a way to celebrate the lives preserved by lessons learned in the aftermath of the loss. If you like to find out more, or would just like to make a donation, then please contact:

On the 7 May 1915, while en route to Liverpool, ‘Lusitania’ was torpedoed by the German U-boat U-20 off the Irish coast near the Old Head of Kinsale. She sank in just 18 minutes, and 1198 men, women and children perished. The sinking sent shockwaves around the world, but her loss was felt particularly keenly in Liverpool – where rioting broke out against German-owned businesses. A large number of the crew had strong connections to the city and many families were devastated by the event. “Lusi”, as she was affectionately known in the city, was held high regard by local people and had been a familiar site at the Landing Stage since her maiden voyage from Liverpool to New York in September 1907.

Each year Merseyside Maritime Museum marks the anniversary with a commemoration around our ‘Lusitania’ propeller, on the quayside across from the museum. Many of those who join us have family connections to those who were on board, and this year we met with people after the event to listen to their stories.

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On Friday 15th November we are hosting a follow-up event, and are hoping to see some familiar faces but also make new connections with local people who have family ties to ‘Lusitania’. If you, or someone you know, would like to come along then head for Learning Base 2, on the second floor of the museum, from 2pm.